Tennessee basketball's Olivier Nkamhoua enters transfer portal

Tennessee basketball forward Olivier Nkamhoua entered the transfer portal Thursday, a UT spokesperson confirmed to Knox News.

Nkamhoua is a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is one of four outgoing Tennessee seniors with the extra year of eligibility available. He is the first to publicly indicate how he might use that final season. He also could turn professional despite entering the portal.

Nkamhoua averaged 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds as a senior for the Vols. He had a pair of huge performances in some of Tennessee's biggest wins and was the only Vol to start all 36 games.

He had 27 points and five rebounds in Tennessee's 65-52 win against Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He scored 23 second-half points, powering UT to its first Sweet 16 since 2019 with a torrid scoring stretch in Orlando, Florida.

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The 6-foot-9 Nkamhoua also had a starring game against Texas on Jan. 28 at Thompson-Boling Arena. He had 27 points and eight rebounds against the Longhorns.

Nkamhoua averaged 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 112 games with 58 starts at Tennessee. He shot 51.8% and 36.4% on 3-pointers, expanding his range and his shooting ability later in his career. He averaged 8.6 points and 5.6 rebounds as a junior before suffering a season-ending left ankle injury at South Carolina in February 2022.

The Finnish forward was recognized on UT's senior day along with Tyreke Key, Josiah-Jordan James, Uros Plavsic and Santiago Vescovi. James, Plavsic and Vescovi also have an extra year of eligibility. Key does not.

Nkamhoua is the second player to enter the transfer portal since UT's season ended with a 62-55 loss to Florida Atlantic in New York. Walk-on Kent Gilbert entered Tuesday.

Tennessee currently has two available scholarships. That number could rise if freshman Julian Phillips declares for the NBA Draft or if any more Vols enter the portal. It could shrink if either James, Plavsic or Vescovi returns to Tennessee to use their final year of eligibility.

Nkamhoua signed with Tennessee as a three-star recruit in the 2019 class out of Bishop Walsh School in Maryland.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball's Olivier Nkamhoua enters transfer portal